A Peek in the Medicine Cabinet of...Miss Kaotic from Perfectly Kaotic!

1. Name: Miss Kaotic of Perfectly Kaotic
2. Age: 29 (ugh)
3. What is your skin type? Fair and oily (double ugh)
4. What color are your eyes? Blue or green, depends on the day
5. What color is your hair? Dark brown, never dyed.
6. Describe your everyday look in a few words. Business casual - hair usually up in a twisty or pony; long and straight when I have time to dry it.
7. Where do you live? Jacksonville, FL
8. What aspect of where you live effects your hair, skin care and/or make up? Humidity, heat, sun, and oh yeah - humidity.
9. What do you do for a living? Interior designer
10. If you could design your dream job, what would it be? Interior designer - just with a different company.
11. What would you change about your appearance? Shed a few lbs.
12. What do you like most about your appearance? Umm?...I have nice feet.
13. What do you to when you want to indulge? Hands (and feet!) down - a massage and/or mani & pedi is my favorite indulgence of all time.
14. What was the first fragrance you ever wore? I think Sunflowers...and I was shocked to recently discover that this is still currently being sold at Walgreens.
15. What fragrance did you wear in high school and/or college? Do you/would you wear it again? I'm pretty sure it was Polo Sport for chicks, and it ALWAYS makes me think of the Chevron where everyone used to loiter. So random. And no, I don't think I'd wear it again.
16. What is your favorite fragrance that you currently wear? I LOVE Juicy Couture's Viva La Juicy. The bf picked it out.
17. Where do you buy most of your make up and skin care products? My Mom - the Mary Kay lady!
18. What do you wash your face with? At night either Target brand Clean and Clear or Ponds (I love the one-stepness of it). In the a.m., Mary Kay's Timewise 3-in-1 Cleanser for Normal to Oily skin. I love it! It has little purple scrubby vitamin beads in it.
19. What product do you buy the most of? None really, but if I had to pick, either sunscreen or lip stuff.
20. What is your most recent beauty splurge/bargain? Splurge: I'd have to say Siggers Shampoo and Conditioner, although it was a gift... I have to say though, I will NEVER go back to cheap shampoo and conditioner. The difference is ridiculous. I had no idea. I guess that might be the best bargain too, since it was a gift!
21. Ladies, what was the first make up product that you were allowed to wear? I'm pretty sure it was either cover-up or powder. Problem skin always!
22. Pop quiz, hot shot: You've overslept and now you only have 5 minutes to get ready in the morning - what do you do? Hair in pony, brush teeth, deodorant, powder, mascara, lip stuff in the car on the way.
23. What does your daily skin care/make up routine consist of in the a.m.? Wash face with Mary Kay 3-in-1 Timewise Cleanser for Oily Skin, Mary Kay Oil Control Moisturizer (or MK Tinted Moisturizer with 25 SPF if we are going to the beach), foundation, powder, blush, bronzer (sometimes), light eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara. Jeez I sound like painted lady. It's not overkill - I promise.
24. What is your p.m. routine? Pond's or Target Brand Clean and Clear - depends on if I want to mess with water or not.
25. When you are getting ready for a special event or night out, how does your skin care/make up routine differ from your daily routine? It doesn't really; maybe a little heavier eye make-up and I might make a special effort to do something with my hair, although it ususally looks the same no matter what. I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to hair. Never have.
26. When you hit puberty, what aspect of growing up seemed the most exciting to you? Least exciting? Umm freedom. Although now I realize I may have been more "free" back then... Nothing really seemed unexciting to me - I was pumped about getting older. Not so much now...
27. Who were some of the first females in your life that you looked to for beauty advice? My mom always!
28. What beauty or skin care product can you not live without? Tweezers and lip stuff. It's a tie.
29. What beauty or skin care product do you spend the most kwan on? Face wash and moisturizers.
30. If you went on Survivor, what would your luxury item be and why? I don't watch survivor, so I don't really get this... maybe my phone? Is that allowed?
31. What magazines do you read for style/beauty tips? For some weird reason I have a subscription to Baazar, so I read that (sometimes), but I don't ever really pay attention to it. I did get a nail polish color out of the last one though. That was the only thing I've ever actually done.
32. What book have you recently read that you want everyone you know to read? Why? I seriously can't remember the last book I read... whoa that is so sad.
33. Where do you draw beauty inspiration from? Usually my stylish friends.
34. What is your health/beauty/skin care guilty pleasure? I considered it a splurge when I bought a new razor that had the shave stuff built around it, so I'll go with that.
35. What is your favorite lip balm/gloss/stick of all-time? Why is it your "ol' faithful"? MK's Beach Bronze lip shine - it is just the right amount of color, it's shimmery, tastes good and lasts forever.
36. What perfume are you dying to get a whiff of? Ummm can't think of any at the moment...
37. What new (or new-to-you) beauty or skin care product are you excited to try? That roller ball thing that is supposed to get rid of dark circles. I wish Glambunctious would do a review of it, actually...
38. Give us a good beauty tip you've learned from someone over the years. One of my BFF's used to wet a q-tip and use it to wipe off any wayward mascara really quickly - it works like a charm and you don't have to redo all your eye makeup.
39. Which celebrity(ies) do you think has(have) great style? Why? Courtney Cox is the first one that sprang to mind; she just always looks so polished and put together to me. Nowadays maybe a little too botoxed, but polished nonetheless.
40. What tips/tricks/products (if any) has your significant other picked up from you? Have you picked up anything from them? OMG he would wear a white t-shirt and khaki shorts every day if I would let him, so I don't think I've learned too much in the way of beauty from him. I think he'd say that he's learned not to wear boots with dress pants from me.
41. When you were 16, what beauty trends did you participate in? What about when you were 21? I'm not sure it was a "beauty" trend, but I remember wearing stickers on our faces alot. What the hell was that about? When I was 21... hmmm I can't remember really. I wore soffe shorts a bunch, because that's what you did when you were in college I guess.
42. If you could go back in time and stop yourself from participating in one beauty trend or fad, what would it be and why? The PERM - see #46.
43. If you could snap your fingers and have anyone else's __(ex. lips, hair, biceps, attitude, etc.)__ in the world, whose would it be? Jennifer Aniston's body.
44. What do you find beautiful about the opposite sex? Same sex? For both sexes, my top is attitude - no contest.
45. What beauty invention do you wish you'd thought of OR What beauty/skin care invention would you like to see? I wish I'd thought of laser hair removal. And I wish I could get it from head to toe also.
46. Worst reaction you've ever had to a beauty/skin care/hair product? Maybe the time I was eight and Mom decided I needed a perm. The lady forgot about me and that stinky solution sat on my hair too long and ran down my neck and back, burning my skin. Not cool.
47. What product completely disappointed you? Nair/Veet/any type of cream hair removal type thing. Totally useless, smelly waste of time.
48. What product have you used that ACTUALLY DID WHAT IT CLAIMED? Neutrogena spray self-tanner - this was before I lived in Florida and had a real tan. It was even and easy to use and didn't look orange or fake.
49. Where in the world would you love to travel? Tahiti. Or the Keys. Or a cruise. I SO need a vacation.
50. What store would you most like to receive a $1,000 shopping spree to? Ann Taylor - I need a new business wardrobe!
51. If you have/someday have a daughter, what beauty trend would you least like to see her sporting? Anything slutty.
52. If you could trade wardrobes with anyone in the world, who would it be? One of my best friends who has the best style/fashion sense ever!
53. When you travel, what beauty product do you never leave home without? Entire make-up bag and deodorant!
54. Name a hot beauty trend going on in the city in which you live. Everyone is very relaxed and beachy here. I find myself doing that more and more the longer we live here. Tank tops, shorts, and flops. Easy.
55. What beauty/skin care items are currently in your purse/bag? Burt's Bee's Original lip balm, Sonia something or another oil blotting papers, MK Ivory pressed powder, 55 rubber bands, MK Beach Bronze Lip Shine, MK Intensive Moisture hand cream, Purell. ALWAYS Purell.
56. What person that you know in real life has a style that you admire? The same friend who I would trade wardrobes with. She is not afraid to try new things and mix it up and she knows about all the fancy-schmancy designers and she's always put together. Love that about her!

REVIEW! | CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara

Product: CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara
Category: Mascara
Subcategory: Lengthening Mascara
Color: Very Black
Cost: Varies from $6.94 - $8.99 depending on retailer
PAO (Period After Opening) Expiration: 6M
Where to Buy: Amazon, Drugstores, Grocery Stores, Target, Walmart
Awards: Allure Best of Beauty 2010 Winner for Best Lengthening Mascara
CoverGirl says:"Our Elasta-Nylon™ formula flexes without flaking, giving you extreme, notice-me lashes all day long. Our longest brush ever gives you an 80% longer lash look.* (*On average vs. Bare Lashes)"
Pros: Lengthens and defines lashes, no flaking, no smudging, longer dry down time allows for more coats without clumping
Cons: Some may find the extra long brush cumbersome, does not volumize lashes (but doesn't claim to)

Review: I personally have short, fine (as in "thin", not as in "slammin'") eyelashes that often bring down my total eye makeup look with their wussy misbehavior. I decided to give CoverGirl LashBlast Length a whirl and I was very happy I did! It does a fantastic job of lengthening lashes! I don't know about 80% more than my bare lashes, but I'd agree to 60% longer. LashBlast Length gives my meager ration of lashes a nice boost in length and definition. One particular thing I enjoyed was the formula seemed to have a longer than average dry-down time, so I was able to apply 4-5 coats without even the whisperings of clump-ster diving. The brush seems to pick up just the right amount of product to cover my lashes. The formula held on all day with absolutely zero flaking or smudging, and still looked great after a workout at the gym. The brush is a bit longer than other mascara brushes, but I had no trouble using it. I thought the lengthened rubber bristled brush was handy at getting into the inner corners of the eye where the little lashes hide. I love the skinniness of the brush; it allows you to really get down to the roots of your lashes without the bristles bumping into your eyelid and ruining everything, so to speak! If you want length and volume, I'd recommend applying 1-2 coats of LashBlast Length and finishing it off with a coat of your favorite volumizing mascara.

Another thing I really liked about this mascara was how easily it washed right off with soap and water - no scrubbing, make up remover, or baby wipes necessary. I really couldn't believe that; I figured the elasta-nylon formula that builds up your lashes would require some serious scrubbing to remove. I wash my face with CeraVe, which is super gentle and usually doesn't remove my eye make up completely but it removed every smidge of LashBlast Length, much to my surprise! What can I say? I'm a sucker for any mascara that doesn't require a belt sander to remove.

As far as lengthening mascaras go, this one ranks right up there with my #1, All-Time Fave, HG: Maybelline Lash Discovery. For me, the only discernible difference is CoverGirl LashBlast Length has an elongated rubberized brush and Maybelline Lash Discovery has a skinnier synthetic one. They both do an amazing job of giving short lashes a much-needed, and much appreciated, booster seat!

Color Payoff: 10/10
Endurance: 10/10
Packaging: 10/10
Does What It Claims: 9/10
OVERALL: 9/10

Ingredients: Water, Glyceryl Stearate, Ammonium Acrylates Copolymer, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Alcohol Denat., Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Triethanolamine, Synthetic Wax, Acrylates, Copolymer, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Lecithin, Propylene Carbonate, Polyethylene, Oleic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Nylon-6, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Simethicone, Ethylparaben, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Glycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Xanthan Gum, Trisodium EDTA, Silica, Iron Oxides. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Ultramarines, Black 2.

REVIEW! | Maybelline Volum’ Express One by One Washable Mascara

Product: Maybelline Volum’ Express One by One Washable Mascara
Category: Mascara
Subcategory: Volumizing Mascara
Color: Blackest Black
Cost: $5 - $7 (Varies by retailer) for one 3 FL Oz tube
PAO (Period After Opening) Expiration: 6M
Where to Buy: Amazon, Drugstores, Grocery Stores, Target, Ulta, Walmart
Maybelline says:"FINALLY, BOLD WITHOUT THE BULK! INSTANT CLUMP-FREE VOLUME! Patented lash catcher brush has 3 bristles per lash to make every lash count. It catches, coats and de-clumps each lash to make them all fatter and flirtier. Instant clump-free volume. Contact lens safe and ophthalmologist tested. "
Pros: Does not flake or smudge, adds some volume, safe for contact lens wearers
Cons: Strong smell, large brush can make it difficult to apply at the lash line

Review: I was drawn to this product by the fun coral and mint packaging, but waited a while before buying it since I don’t typically like volumizing mascaras. The reason being is that volumizing formulas are typically accompanied by a GI-NOR-MOUS brush. In the end, I decided to try it since I had a coupon!

What can I say about the patented “lash catcher brush”? It is football-shaped and is roughly the same girth as an actual pigskin. Ok, not really, but it does get pretty wide, which made it difficult for me to get the product down to the roots without the brush touching my eyelid and transferring mascara all over creation. I generally need a thinner brush that allows for application closer to the root line, seeing as how my short lashes are approximately 1 mm long. I felt that this mascara did a mediocre job of actually volumizing my lashes; I’ve achieved more volume using L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara.

Maybelline Volum' Express One by One Mascara stayed on my lashes with no smudging or flaking for 14 hours, which is excellent. I did not find it to come off easily with soap and water. It left voluminous detritus all around my eyes that required some Up & Up wipes to remove.

Would I buy this product again? No.
Color Payoff: 10/10
Endurance: 10/10
Packaging: 5/10
Scent/Flavor: 6/10
Does What It Claims: 6/10
OVERALL: 6/10

Ingredients: Water (Aqua/Eau), Paraffin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Cera Carnauba (Carnauba Wax), Acacia Senegal Gum, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, PEG 17/18 Dimethicone, Steareth 20, Phenethyl Alcohol, Sodium Polymethacrylate, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil, Simethicone, Disodium EDTA, Polyquaternium 10, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract (Sugar Cane), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C), Panthenol, Acrylates Copolymer, Silica, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Extract (Lemon), Pyrus Malus Extract (Apple Fruit), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, May Contain (+/-): Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Mica, Carmine (CI 75470) (CI 75470), Chromium Oxide Green (CI 77288), Chromium Hydroxide Greens (CI 77289), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide (CI 77510) (CI 77510)

A Peek in the Medicine Cabinet of...B. from STFU, Parents!

1. Name: B. from STFU, Parents
2. Age: 29
3. What is your skin type? Much like me, it's a little on the sensitive side
4. What color are your eyes? Green
5. What color is your hair? According to my stylist it's blond!
6. Describe your everyday look in a few words. At home: casual & occasionally pantsless. Outside home: slightly put-together.
7. Where do you live? Brooklyn, baby!
8. What aspect of where you live affects your hair, skin care and/or make up? In the summer my hair looks fabulous. In the winter it looks like crap. No humidity just kills it.
9. What do you do for a living? I'm a writer and professional shit-talker AKA blogger.
10. If you could design your dream job, what would it be? Probably what I'm doing now, except with Ina Garten's back garden and patio and a bunch of minions.
11. What would you change about your appearance? My love handles are not so lovely. I have a keyloid on my shoulder that I HATE, but a few generous souls have told me that scars are "cool." Technically I could get it fixed with cortisone shots, but them bitches is 'spensive.
12. What do you like most about your appearance? Big eyes, big boobs, fast metabolism. Maybe not in that order.
13. What do you to when you want to indulge? I drink champagne with St. Germain in it and watch something terrible on TV while reading a home decor magazine like Living Etc. I don't really absorb what's going on in either but the multi-tasking feels very satisfying.
14. What was the first fragrance you ever wore? Exclamation. It ruled.
15. What fragrance did you wear in high school and/or college? Does smelling it take you back or bring to mind a specific memory? Do you/would you wear it again? In high school I relied heavily on lotion and body wash to smell good. I was into Bath & Body Works stuff for a while. Juniper Breeze takes me back! *tear* In college I think I was in a "not caring phase."
16. What is your favorite fragrance that you currently wear? I'm pretty cheesy. If I wear a fragrance, it's signature Juicy Couture. I kind of love it. I hope that doesn't make me a whore.
17. Where do you buy most of your make up and skin care products? Sephora, Ricky's NYC and my cousin's work closet (she works in beauty PR)
18. What do you wash your face with? Just water!! My skin is sensitive and doesn't want a daily face wash. When I shower (not every single day!) I wash it with a gentle soap.
19. What product do you buy the most of? I rarely buy products. Usually I just replace products I ran out of. But I do love me some lip balm. Burt's Bees is the best. There's no disputing that.
20. What is your most recent beauty splurge? Bargain? The bargain is my cousin handing over a bag full of goodies including teeth whitening strips, hair masks and cellulite cream! She knows me so well. The splurge is probably my hair. Every couple months I pay my stylist friend Tom to cut and color it at his salon. He gives me a discount, but let's face it: Good hair costs money.
21. Ladies, what was the first make up product that you were allowed to wear? How old were you? Hmm. I don't know why I got into blue eyeliner, but in 8th grade I started wearing it all the time. I was obsessed with it. It was my "signature thing." I think that was my first foray into wearing make-up regularly. I'm sure my mother probably tried to stop me. Thankfully that phase only lasted about 10 months.
22. Pop quiz, hot shot: You've overslept and now you only have 5 minutes to get ready in the morning - what do you do? Brush hair, brush teeth, eyeliner, mascara
23. What does your daily skin care/make up routine consist of in the a.m.? Did I mention that I'm lazy?! I do nothing. I splash a little water around so I wake up, but that's it unless I shower. If I'm going out to a meeting, I put on eye shadow, eyeliner and mascara. No face make-up (like foundation) for me.
24. What is your p.m. routine? Pretty much the same as above, but more dramatic eyes than daytime + lip gloss.
25. When you are getting ready for a special event or night out, how does your skin care/make up routine differ from your daily routine? I've always wanted to be one of those people who understood how to switch up my routines based on the time and place, but in reality I'll never be that person. I'll always be the girl who wonders how it takes celebrities 2+ hours to get ready.
26. When you hit puberty, what aspect of growing up seemed the most exciting to you? Least exciting? Most exciting was driving. No question! Least exciting was body changes. I didn't know how to deal with them at all.
27. Who were some of the first females in your life that you looked to for beauty advice? Well, first there was Carla, who told me my eyelashes were "too long" and I should cut them with scissors (I didn't!). Then there was Robin, who modeled her looks on Rayanne from My So-Called Life when we were friends. After that I kind of winged it. I also looked to magazines like YM and Seventeen a lot.
28. What beauty or skin care product can you not live without? Mascara, although I'm still searching for the perfect one after all these years...
29. What beauty or skin care product do you spend the most kwan on? Shampoo and conditioner. I always use Bumble & Bumble even though it's $$.
30. If you went on Survivor, what would your luxury item be and why? I don't watch Survivor so I'm going to say "water", followed up by "Wintergreen Tic Tacs."
31. What magazines do you read for style/beauty tips? Right now I'm way more into home style than beauty style so most of the magazines I buy center around interior design. But I do read a few personal style blogs for fashion :)
32. What book have you recently read that you want everyone you know to read? Why? This is random, but I love The Oatmeal's new collection of comics. It's so fun to read through a few at a time.
33. Where do you draw beauty inspiration from? Definitely just being on the street in NYC. That affects my style and idea of beauty on a daily basis. Also magazines and blogs.
34. What is your health/beauty/skin care guilty pleasure? Acupuncture. I LOVE it.
35. What is your favorite lip balm/gloss/stick of all-time? Why is it your "ol' faithful"? As stated above, Burt's Bees original FTW!
36. What perfume are you dying to get a whiff of? No clue :(
37. What new (or new-to-you) beauty or skin care product are you excited to try? I've always wanted to try Bare Escentuals. Gonna do that sometime.
38. Give us a good beauty tip you've learned from someone over the years. To stand up straight. Posture and beauty are intrinsically related. Of course, my posture sucks but it was still a good tip.
39. Which celebrities do you think have great style? Why? I love Heidi Klum's style because she's not afraid to show her legs and she likes metallic things like I do. I also like Diane Kruger's style because she has a point of view and seems to thoughtfully select her outfits.
40. What tips/tricks/products (if any) has your significant other picked up from you? Have you picked up anything from them? Well, truth be told we share deodorant. I just like his better! I think the best trick/product my man has learned from me is a lil thing called a TIDE PEN. He'd carry one with him everywhere if it were up to me.
41. When you were 16, what beauty trends did you participate in? What about when you were 21? When I was 16 I definitely tramped it up a bit and went slightly goth (but not really). Then I somehow transitioned into kind of a bohemian/hippie thing, so the "trends" were mostly dictated from being a dumbass teenager. When I was 21 I totally indulged in that giant flower pin/broach thing Carrie did in Season 3 of Sex and The City.
42. If you could go back in time and stop yourself from participating in one beauty trend or fad, what would it be and why? I think the gloppy glitter gel for your eyes was pretty gross and uncomfortable to wear. Anything with glitter that was sticky or heavy was probably a bad idea.
43. If you could snap your fingers and have anyone else's __(ex. lips, hair, biceps, attitude, etc.)__ in the world, whose would it be? Right now? Bethenny Frankel's biceps! I also think Jennifer Aniston's body is fabulous for her age. Apparently my boyfriend thinks Brooklyn Decker has the best boobs.
44. What do you find beautiful about the opposite sex? Same sex? I think personal style and confidence is sexy in both sexes.
45. What beauty invention do you wish you'd thought of OR What beauty/skin care invention would you like to see? Well it would be great if I could get rid of this damn keyloid on my shoulder myself. Other than that, maybe I wish I'd invented pimple cream. I bet the person who invented that made a fortune.
46. Worst reaction you've ever had to a beauty/skin care/hair product? When I was in 5th grade I bought a facial mud mask at Garden Botanica at the mall and it left my whole face pretty red and raw for about a day. I replaced it with a cool aloe gel mask that I kept in the fridge. It was awesome.
47. What product completely disappointed you? LOTS of mascaras, Nair-type hair removal products
48. What product have you used that ACTUALLY DID WHAT IT CLAIMED? My cousin gave me a tube of Pixi Eye Tone Brightener, which helps your eyes wake up (or "look awake"), and I feel like it totally works! I love it.
49. Where in the world would you love to travel? Brazil, Thailand, South Africa, Greece, Spain
50. What store would you most like to receive a $1,000 shopping spree to? (Does not have to be beauty-related) Probably a vintage furniture store, although $1k might not get me too far. I'm also obsessed with Gilt Groupe and the laziest shopper ever, so a gift card to that site would please me greatly.
51. If you could trade wardrobes with anyone in the world, who would it be? I'm a fan of Blake Lively's wardrobe and Diane Kruger's wardrobe
52. When you travel, what beauty product do you never leave home without? In the summer: SPF 100. In other months: my favorite eye shadow
53. Name a hot beauty trend going on in the city in which you live. Do you plan to participate yourself? There are so many and they're always changing. It's too soon to tell for summer. Rompers were pretty big last year so I think they might take a backseat this year, although I saw a girl wearing a full-body "play suit" yesterday which worried me.
54. What beauty/skin care items are currently in your bag? Of course I somehow have 2 Original Burt's Bees sticks, plus Desert Essence Lip Rescue (which sucks, btw), plus The Body Shop coolant lip balm in peppermint, and finally Napoleon Perdis Lip Gloss in Mykonos. I'm into lip stuff apparently.
55. What person that you know in real life has a style that you admire? This sounds funny, but my friend Tom. He's my hair stylist and a fabulous gay man who just has a great style. He knows how to stand out without looking obnoxious. He's unique. That's what everyone should strive to be! :)

Catch more of B.'s clever wit, creativity and sharp sense of humor on her blog, STFU, Parents!

REVIEW! | MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Bare Again & Can't Get Enough

Product: MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick
Category: Lipstick
Color: Bare Again (Pinky Neutral Beige), Can't Get Enough (Beige Neutral)
Cost: $14.50
Where to Buy: MAC
MAC says:"Combining the colour impact of a Lipstick with the shine sheen of a Lipglass, Sheen Supreme creates the perfect hybrid - with no compromise. Lightweight, non-sticky, slick to apply and comfortable to wear. This is a must-have for all those who have craved this kind of fusion."
Pros: More moisturizing than regular lipsticks, excellent color payoff, lasts approximately 4 hours, sturdy-yet-sleek packaging
Cons: Thick formula can lead to less-than-stellar application, lipstick is scented

Review: I was so excited about these lipsticks when they launched and I immediately purchased these two. The pigmentation is really good for a sheen type lipstick/lip balm hybrid; I find the color payoff to be much more significant with these than with Chanel's Coco Rouge Shines. For me, I wasn't so fond of the ultra buttery texture and the thick consistency of of the lipstick. You seriously only need a swipe or two for perfect coverage; any more and you'll notice the color begins to pool a bit in the corners of your mouth. They wear well for about 4 hours before you'll want to reapply due to the color fading and your lips feeling a bit dry. Like all MAC lipsticks, they are unflavored and vanilla-scented. I don't mind the scent but it does tend to linger. Those with fragrance sensitivities may not enjoy it.

The packaging is fabulous! The lid slides over a groove and snaps shut to lock n' load. There is no fear whatsoever of the cap coming off and finding the lipstick flapping nimbly-bimbly about in your bag.

I've used other MAC lipsticks in the past and have been quite pleased with their formulation, but the Sheen Supremes felt a little too thick and greasy on my lips.

Color Payoff: 9/10
Endurance: 7/10
Packaging: 10/10
Scent/Flavor: 6/10
OVERALL: 7/10

On to the swatches! **Click photo to enlarge!**

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Bare Again, Can't Get Enough

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Bare Again

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Can't Get Enough

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Bare Again, Can't Get Enough

REVIEW! | OPI Nail Color in Strawberry Margarita

OPI Strawberry Margarita

Product: OPI Nail Color

Category: Nail Polish

Subcategory: Creme Nail Polish

Color(s): Strawberry Margarita (Bright True Pink)

Cost: Varies from $5.00 - $8.00 for one 0.5 FL Oz bottle

PAO (Period After Opening) Expiration: 24M

Where to Buy: Amazon, Kroger, OPI website (enter your ZIP for local salons that sell OPI nail polish in your area)

Pros: OPI does not test on animals, beautiful bright pink color, 2 coats = full coverage, long lasting (5 days)

Cons: None

Review: If you are looking for a great BRIGHT true pink nail polish, OPI Strawberry Margarita is it! This nice creme polish provided full coverage in 2 coats (I first applied a base clear coat and finished it off with a layer of Seche Vite top coat) and it lasted 5 days without any chips and very minimal edge wear. It's a really happy color! It was part of OPI's Mexico Collection for Spring/Summer 2006, but it's still widely available. I bought mine 2 weeks ago at Kroger for $5 bucks and change!

Color Payoff: 10/10

Endurance: 9/10

Packaging: 10/10

OVERALL: 9/10

Ingredients: Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Propyl Acetate, Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin, Isopropyl Alcohol, Trimethyl Pentanyl Diisobutyrate, Triphenyl Phosphate, Ethyl Tosylamide, Camphor, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Diacetone Alcohol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Benzophenone 1, Citric Acid, Dimethicone, Mica, Silica, CI 77120, CI 77891, CI 15860, CI 15880

On to the pics/swatches!

REVIEW! | Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Greed & Sin

Product: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Category: Eyeshadow primer
Color(s): Greed (gold), Sin (champagne)
Cost: $18.00 for one 0.34 FL Oz genie bottle or $19.00 for one 0.37 FL Oz squeeze tube
PAO (Period After Opening) Expiration: 6M
Where to Buy: Macy's, Sephora, Urban Decay
Urban Decay says: This miracle eyeshadow primer is unmatched by any other in the beauty industry! The genie in this bottle fulfills three wishes: eyeshadow that lasts for 24+ hours, more vibrant color and absolutely NO CREASING. Use the magic wand and flocked applicator to apply Primer Potion to lids before shadow application. It glides on easily and dries down almost instantly, creating smooth lids that are super-powered eyeshadow magnets.
Pros: Crease-proof, intensifies eye shadow, long lasting (12+ hours!), easy to apply, can be worn alone as shadows or highlighters
Cons: None! This stuff is the top of the pops!

Review: If I had a million dollars, or even a couple thou, I would buy this amazing product for every gal I know! It is remarkable, and it WORKS! Everything Urban Decay claims it does? It actually DOES. Both Greed (shimmering gold base) and Sin (shimmering champagne base) can be worn alone as a highlighter/eyeshadow; I have come to love wearing Sin on it's own. These primers prevent your eyeshadow/eyeliner from creasing, fading and generally shooping off your eyelids like angry birds after a few hours! I can't say that I have personally had them last 24+ hours because I wash my face every night, but they are still going strong for me at the end of 12! Your eyeshadow/eyeliner will look precisely as it did when you first applied it in the morning. There is absolutely no need to worry that your liner will end up migrating into your crease, or that your shadow will smudge or fade when you have this wonderful product in your makeup bag!

The two I have are the ones in the genie bottle with a flocked applicator, and recently they have relaunched the product in a squeeze tube format (the genie bottles are still availble for a limited time on the Urban Decay website). Application is as easy as pickled peaches: swipe it on, blend with your fingertip, and A) you're done or B) you're ready to apply your shadow/liner! It dries quickly from a liquid to a powder and it's very easy to blend. It also gives shadows a smooth base to build on and the beautiful shimmer really makes whatever shadow you layer over it pop! I used Greed as my primer to create the look here for the Urban Decay Rollergirl Palette I reviewed in April. If you're not a big shimmer person, Original dries invisibly.

I cannot say enough about how stellar this product is! You need to get one, or all four shades, for yourself - STAT!

Color Payoff: 10/10
Endurance: 10/10
Packaging: 10/10
Scent: 10/10 (unscented)
OVERALL: 10/10

Ingredients: Isododecane, Talc, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trihydroxystearin, Triethylhexanoin, Isopropyl Lanolate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethicone, PEG-40 Stearate, Propylene Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Cera Alba (Synthetic Beeswax), Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Methicone, Isobutylparaben.

On to the swatches!

Greed (gold) unlended / blended, Sin (champagne) unblended / blended

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed (gold)

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin (champagne)

A Total Waste of Makeup by Kim Gruenenfelder

A Total Waste of Makeup by Kim Gruenenfelder

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My mom read and enjoyed this and recommended it to me and I'm so glad she did! It was so much fun to read! I thought the writing was outstanding. The characters were all well-developed to the point where I had a great mental picture of each of them, and I genuinely enjoyed not only heroine Charlie Edwards, but also her superstar-with-a-heart celebrity boss, girl friends and nutty family. The plot was a lot of fun and I thought the author managed to keep things exciting and un-cliched. I kept thinking the book read like a good movie; the characters were so complete and real, and the drama and humor were so well paced. I happened to read the author's acknowledgements and she thanks her film agent for encouraging her to take time off from writing screenplays to write this novel! I really wish I had read this book when I was single and encountering one assclown after the next, meanwhile all of my friends were getting engaged and married. I felt like I would never find the right person and I'd somehow angered the love gods and they were personally dumping on me for thrills. This book illustrates exactly how it feels to be in that situation; the novel is filled with hilarious tidbits, comforting advice and a good message that it {AKA your love life} will work out when the time is right. I will definitely be reading "Misery Loves Cabernet"!